The Portland daily press., 1887-10-27

II may be deluge the next it may be drought.
What are We TO do? What can we do? We can
only calculate probabilities and trust our friends.
What? Can you not trust God? Yes-blessed
trust-we can trust Him. But trust must be In
telligent. Gods ordination Is that missionary
work shall be carried on by his children, and that
they shall pay the bills. We have right to expect
ta at lie VII WORK miracles IN one direction 70 de
ton Is not piety. Fanaticism is not faith. We
have vast work committed to our care. Wehave
great.number of missionaries TO support We
have large money investments in church and school
property to guard. We must plan to conserve all
these interests. sentimental trust in God will
not pay taxes and missionaries salaries, nor save
religion from being dishOnOred by broken pledges
The churches, whose servant the Association is,
ely of constant fear lest through lack of funds
Inc work shall be endangered and the interests of
Chrlsts Kingdom made TO suffer.
Inc above are some OF the reasons for raising
the question, What should be done to Increase
the number of those who intelligently contribute
TO the support OF the American Missionary Asso-
citation?
Now for the answer
]. Our theological seminaries should provide
for course OF lectures in which the history and
claims OF the American Missionary Association,
together with those of the other six missionary
societies, should be presented and discussed
systematic theology, church policy, homiletics and
ecclesiastical history would lose nothing, but on
the contrary they would gain much in interest
ana power by the inspiration of such lectures
TO train the churches IN SUPPORT of these societies
is part of ministerial life, and they need to be
trained. The initial letters by which these socie-
with them would be as mysterious and puzzling to
the great majority of our congregations as the
hieroglyphics of an Egyptian tomb
NOW this Is all wrong. These societies are the
organized assertions OF great truths: They are
the expressions OF great principles. They repre-
resent the heart Of the gospel reaching out
through the churches for the worlds salvationl
The people should be instructed In reference to
their duty toward them, and not left in ignorance
ss 70 as ns sy SnS Sase eur lneog
for the work of the gospel ministry, they should
train them for its work all round and not merely
for its work on few sides. James was an apos-
tie as well as Paul. You would scarcely dream it
from the teaching OF some theologies. The
preaching that trains the people to clear intellec
tual conceptions of truth Is good but the preach
ing that in addition to this trains them TO go out
and put their belief into practice Is better. and
that because 1t is more Christian. The roundness
and fulness of truth demand It. II could but feel
for the poor fellows" remarked gentleman to a
Quaker to whom he was relating tale of deep
distress. ''Verily, friend" replied the Quaker.
neighbor; but ddst thou feel in the light place
didst thou feel in thy poeket?" Theory-practice.
vorcsd either in the teaching Of our semnaries or
In the preaching of our pulpits.
2. There should be an annual presentation of
the Associations claims in every church. This
may seem like wild proposition in view of the
large number OF non contributing churches. But
duty should be affirmed even IL no one performs
ministers do not bring the claims of the Amer
lean Missionary Association before their congre-
the society and its work. They have the Year
Book. They must know OF the resolutions OF the
National Council and state associations. They
pers, and know they all have their pure minds
stirred up periodically by way of remembrance by
circulars and other agencies. Are their churches
small and poor? There is No church SO small and
so poor, If 1t have any right to be in existence,
but that it can do little and in doing that little
receive in return for itself and minister, both
spiritual and temporal blessing. If there is q
church so small and so poor that 1t cannot DO this
then It had better make haste to glorify God by
life. Are there so many objects asking help that
they cannot respond? There are only seven so
cieties in our UNCONVENTIONAL family claiming
their support Can it be that any minister OF the
gospel feels that seven contributions for benevo-
lent objects during the twelve months of the year
are too many for his church to maker are more
than his church ought ought to make? And if he
allow outside objects to come in. however worthy
they may Be, and thereby CROWD out any Of the
societies? Generosity is indeed virtue, but ex-
ercised at the expense Of those whe have prior
claim, it can hardly be called Christian virtue.
An apostle has written it: of any provide not
for his own and specially for those of his own
house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than
ton is an adopted child Of the Congregational
churches of the United States. 1t is lawful
member of our UNCONVENTIONAL household. 1t is
there by virtue Of every law which governs in the
fellowship Of the churches. 1t is not = heggar
asking alms-it Is not stranger crowdng for
hospitality.it is child having all the rights and
privileges of a child in its own home, and If beg
gars and strangers are allowed to enter and rob
it OF that which is its legitimate portion it has a
right to be heard in earnest protest against the
wrong it suffers. As the accredited agent of the
churches for the Prosecution of missionary work
in the field it occupies 1t has rghtful claim to their
g. A committee should be appointed in each
local conference to see to it that during the year
every church in the conference has the cause pre-
sentea and a contribution taken. A committee
thus appointed can write to each church, remind
ing II Of its duty TO make an annual offering to the
American Missionary Association as one of our
national societies. Where there are pastors who
do not care to present the cause themselves every
year, and where there are churches that have no
pastors, certain brethren can be requested to
prepare a presentation, and by system Of ex-
changes secure its delivery in all the churches, sc
that not enc of them shall be allowed to go sin
gle year uninstrncted in regard to this duty. AL
that is needed is for some one man to take hold OF
this matter with earnestness and place it clearly
Has this langu age the sound of authority about il
"a flavor Of presDyterial or prelatic law? 1t ID
only a sound and a flavor; nothing more. There
is nothing legislative about it. 1t is simply the
churches themselves, through their own chosen
representatives in conference, devsing the most
effective method for carrying out work in which
by the very genius Of their church poity, they are
all equally interested The only law that there i.
about ii is the foundation principle on which they
were organized and recognized as churches, and
on which they have established their local confer
encc.
l. There should he an assigned place in every
some branch of the Associations work, prepared
by some one previously designated to do II. 1t is
to be deplored that some churches take little in
terest in the missionary concert. 1t is mistake
in its effects injurious to the church well tC
the cause of missions. The missionary concert by
a little care and painstaking can be made one Of
the most interesting and profitable meetings thai
the church holds. Its influence as an educational
power transcsnds measurement. The geography
government, history, social life and customs Of
the country where missions are located, are more
or less brought out in the consideration of what
the missionaries are doing. II our eyes are only
n n Of m il
rich in everything that interests the human mind
Romance, tragedy, heroism sacrifice, pathos, wit
and humor are all intermingled in that wonderful
story. Ii cur ears are only sensitive enough to
hear them there come appeals from missionary
experiences that stir to their profoundest depths
American Missionary Association is peculiarly
afusnt in topic and incident for use in the mis-
the Current humber Of the Missionary viii aways
be In order as report; while for papers and adj
dresses and discussions, there is no assignable
development OF the Associations and its
work. Its lines reach out in their re-
lations to all the ends Of the earth. In its
great emancipation advocates of Europe. BY its
labors in behalf of the Chinese on the Pacific
slope it has become factor in the great move
ment of Christian missions for the evangelization
OF Asia. Through its special championship and
heroic efforts in behalf of the negro its records
written when the history OF redeemed Africa ID
completed; and 10 what 1t has done for the North
American indian ana Is dong; IN what II has
done for human rights and liberty, and in defence
OF pure Christianity and is doing. it has become
an Integral part OF those mighty forces that will
one day redeem America from the dominance OF
false principles and bring in the reign of Justice
equity and truth throughout the length and
breadth OF the land. Within the vast circle sur.
rounding all these racial questions that this Asso
citation touches in its work Of the past and in lis
outlook for the future there lie subjects and topics
for thought and discussion absolutely inexhailst.
bel There is no need.of any missionary concerts
being dull or embarrassing. and certainly there is
no need of its being Improbable while such mis-
slonary society as this is in the field. 1t should
have place and hearing In every missionary
concert.
8. The circulation OF the American Missionary
should be greatly increased and the people urged
to read it. Among the 436,379 members OF the
Congres atenal churches in the country there are
sent every month ,463 magazines; that is on an
average one magazine to ~ readers. II this one
magazine were passed round SO that all had a
answer the purpose. One subscriber wrote us
that she made her American Missionary to be SO
much Of an Episcopalian that1t "kept lent all the
year round But the evidence Is not very over
whelming that this is done TO any great extent.
Tho evidence is, however, quite convincing that
the magazines are not all read by their subscrb
ers, and that the waste basket is not altogether
unacquainted with their presence. After DIR. Ell
linwood, secretary Of the Presbyterian Board Of
Foreign Missions, had once made an earnest ap
peal for money in the Presbytery, the moderator
distinguished doctor of divinity. asked him il
he would not confer favor on the brethren by
printing the facts that he had just stated in the
Missionary magazine next month, adding that he
had been trying for a long time to obtain those
figures. why" responded DIR. Ellinwood, that
magazine, for the last Two months, has con co.
Won todayO Missionary literature is desDised III